Shade and shade-roller fixture.



1N0; 850,578. PATENTED APR.16; 1907.

v A. HITT. SHADE AND SHADE ROLLER FIXTURE.

AYPLIGAT ION FILED APB-.4. 1906.

I V i i 5 BEETS-SHEEN.

' PATENTEDAPR.16,1907.

A. HITT. SHADE AND SHADE ROLLER FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED APE.4, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEE T 2.

' No.'850,5'78. PATENTED APR.16, 1907.

, A. HITT. L SHADE AND SHADE ROLLER FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4,19051 a SDEDT$-DHDET s.

I INVENTOR? v V falrlaqljlfi;

ATTORN lUNlTED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

ADRIAN HITT, or JERSEY crrnnnw JERSEY, ASSIGNO-R or ONE-HALF TO HENRYBERGQOF ORANGE VALLEY, NEW JERSEY.

SHADE AND SHADE-ROLLER FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed April 4, 1905. Serial No. 253,776.

To (.LZZ whom it may concern.-

' part of this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in shades and shade-rollerfixtures for windows; and this invention has for its primary object toprovide a novel arrangement and combination of devices and parts whichpermits of the shade to be lowered from its extreme upper position infront of the window and window-frame, but the mechanism of which is suchthat the shade-roller and the shade, Which is rolled or partly rolledthereon, may be lowered or ralsed so as to be suspended at any desiredpoint between the top and bottom of the window or window-frame.

The invention has for its further object to provide a means whichpermits of the shade to be unrecled from the shade-roller when thelatter is in any one of its variable suspended positions, and wherebyany part of a window may be screened by the shadeas, for instance, theentire window or only a lower part of the window or only a part of thewindow may be screenedthe upper and lower parts of the window, beingleft unscreened to admit of light and sun at both the top and bottom ofthe window.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a novelconstruction of windowshade and roller therefor which is adjustable andapplicable to any part of a window and window-frame, which is easy ofapplication and may be readily manipulated when in position, and whichis of a simple and cheap construction and is most effective when inoperation.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more especiallymentioned will be clearly obvious from the detailed description of mypresent invention.

With the various objects of my present invention in view the inventionconsists, primarily, in the novel adjustable window-shade and rollertherefor hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, this inventionconsists in the arrangements and combinations of devices and parts, aswell as in the details of the construction of the same, all of whichwill be more fully described in the following specification and thenfinally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to andwhich form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a front viewof a window provide'd with an adjustablewindow-shade, shade-roller, and supporting-fixture therefor, allembodying the principles of my present invention. Fig. 2 is an end viewof the supporting-fixture and suspended shaderoller and its shade, saidview being made on an enlarged scale. Figs. 3 and 4 are longitudinalvertical sections of the two end portions of the saidsupporting-fixture, and F ig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 in said Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow X. Fig. 6 is afront view of a su porting-fixture and a shade and shade-roller of amodified construction, a portion of the shade and shade-roller beingrepresented in longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 7 is a front view ofthe upper portion of a window and a supportingfixture and shade-rollerand its shade, the same showing another modified form of construction,but still embodying the features of this invention. Fig. 8 is an endview of the shade-roller and a portion of the shade thereon, with a partof the supportingfixture represented in said Fig. ,7, and. Figs. 9 and10 are perspective views of portions of certain parts of the saidsupporting-fixture.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above-describedviews to indicate corresponding parts.

Referrin now to the several figures of the drawings, t e referencecharacter 1 indicates a window-frame, and 2 and 3 are the upper andlower window-sashes of the same. Stitably secured upon the side strips 4of the Window-frame at the top, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, area pair of suitably-constructed bearings 5 and 6, between which areoperatively supported the parts of the main actuating device for thesuspension and rais ing and lowering of the shadeeroller and shade. Thismain actuating device may be of any suitable construction. The samecornprises, preferably, a hollow rod 7 of a polygonal cross-section,both upon its inner an outer portions, such cross-section beingpreferably a square or of a similar angular configuration, a second rod8, preferably solid and of a similar configuration in cross-section,having a portion extending into and being slidably and adjustablyconnected with the said rod 7. Upon its outer free end portion the saidrod 8 is provided with a suitablyconstructed spool 9 or other similardevice, substantially as represented in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings,the said receiving device or spool 9 having secured upon its end face aplate 10, provided with a ournal or stud 11. '1 his journal or stud 11is operatively and rotatively arranged in the bearing 5.

Upon the opposite and outer free end of the hollow rod 7 is suitablysecured a suitably-constructed spool 12 or other similar receivingdevice, substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings. Thesaid spool 12 is made in its one end with a depression 13, in which ismovably and rotatably secured, by means of a cap or plate 1 1, having acentral opening 15, a holding or retaining flange 17 of a ratchet-hub16. The cap or plate 14 may be of any suitable construction and ispreferably provided with an annular marginal holding-flange 18, which isforced over the end or the spool 12 substantially as shown, a suitablemetal shell 19, having an extending annular part 20, being in turnarranged and suitably secured over said flange 17 and the end portion ofthe spool 12, substantially in the manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3of the drawings. The said ratchet-hub 16 is made in its opposite sideswith suitable receiving and holding depressions 21, and pivotallyconnected with the face of the cap or plate 14 are a pair of holdingdogs or pawls 22, each being pro vided with a holding teat or projection23, adapted to be brought in engagement with the receiving and holdingdepressions21, substantially in the manner and for the purposes to bepresently described. The said ratchet.- hub 16 is also provided with aflat stud or projection 24, adapted to be supported in acorrespondingly-formed receiving member of the bearing 6, so that thesaid ratchet-hub, and its parts, is always held against turning when themain actuating device is in its so spended relation at the top of thewindowframe, but at times permits of the turning of the said device inthe manner and for the purposes to be presently described. Suitablysecured upon a portion of the said rod or bar 8 is an actu ating-spoolor similar de. ice 25, upon which is arranged an operating tape or cord26, having its inner end suitably fastened upon the body of said spoolor device 25.

Suitably secured upon each spool or device 12 and 9 with its inner endsuitably fastened to the body of the spool 12 or 9 is a cord or tape 27,the lower end of each cord or tape 27 being attached to a suspensiondevice or hanger 28. Each hanger 28 is made, preferably, of a flat pieceof metal formed with a receiving portion 29 and a slot 30, the parts 31and 32 of each hanger 28 providing the bearings for the journals orpivots 33 and 341 of a lilartshorn or ordinary spring shaderoller 35,upon which is secured a shade 36. An actuating cord or tape 37 isattached to the said shade 36 in the usual and well-known manner Thesaid journals or pivots 33 and 34 are of the usual construction employedwith spring shade-rollers, the journal 33 being of the usual cylindricalconfiguration and the journal or pivot 34 being made fiat, whereby whenthe roller 35 is suspended between the two suspension devices or hangers28 the shade-roller 35 and shade 36 can be operated in the same manneras when supported in the usual manner between a pair of shade-rollerbrackets which are fixed upon a windowfran1e. To prevent any lateraldisplacement of the respective hangers or suspension devices 28 from thesaid journals or pivots 33 and 34, each ournal or pivot may be providedwith an enlargement, nut, or head, as 38, as clearly illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description and from an inspection of said Figs. 1 to5, inclusive, it will be seen that the telescopic arrangement of thebars or rods 7 and 8 of the main actuating device renders the same easyof a quick and ready adjustment between and upon the two brackets orsupports 5 and 6. The tape or cord 26, as will be seen from Fig. 1, iswound upon the spool 25 in a direction opposite from the windings of thetapes or cords 27 upon the spools 9 and 12. Now, supposing the curtainto be in the position indicated in Fig. 1 and it is desired to bring theshade-roller 35 nearer the main actuating device at the top of thewindow, by pulling upon the tape or cord 26 in a downward direction thetape or cord 26is being unreeled from its spool 25, and the parts of theactuating device except the ratchet-hub 16 will revolve in the directionof the arrow Y in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The dogs or pawls 22 beingpivoted upon the face of the cap or plate 14, which of course revolveswith the spool 12, while the hub 16 remains stationary, the result willbe that the previously-held dog or pawl is moved from its holdingengagement with the said ratchet-hub 16, permitting the shade-roller andits shade to be raised the distance desired. During such downward pullupon the tape or OJICl 26 the two dogs 22 alternately come in aninoperative sliding engagement with the cylindrical surface anddepressions of the hub 16, and when the pull upon the tape or cord 26 isreleased the re- IIO suit will be that the-do g or pawl which is locatednear the highest depression in the hub 16 will be brought in holdingengages ent with said hub and hold the parts at rest.be cause of thefact that the combined weight of the shade-roller 35 and shade 36 tendsto revolve the parts in the direction of the arrow Z in said Fig. 2.Suppose, however, that it is desired to lower the shade-roller 35 andshade 36. tape or cord 26, whereby the engaged dog or pawl 22 isdisengaged from the hub 16 in the manner just set forth. The pull uponthe tape or cord26 is then suddenly released. This allows theshade-roller 35 and shade 36 to exert a sudden pull upon the two tapesor cords 27 in the direction of the arrow U in Fig. 2, causing the twodogs 22, owing to centrifugal force, to fly outwardly in a manner whichwill be clearly understood, thus unreeling the tapes or cords 27 fromtheirspools 9 and 12, at the same time revolving the two rods or bars 7and S and the spool 25 in the direction of the arrow Z, whereby the tapeor cord 26 is rewound upon said spool 25. During all this time theoperator has still held onto the tape or cord 26 until the roller 35 andits shade 36 have been sufficiently lowered, when the operator againexerts a downward pull upon the cord or tape 26. Thereby an unreeling ofthe cord or tape 26 from its spool 25 is produced, and a revolvingmotion of the parts of the actuating device is again produced in thedirection of the arrow Y in Fig. 2. This tendency of the parts to turnin an opposite direction allows the dogs 22 to assume their formerpositions, and when the pull upon the tape or cord 26 is again releasedthe various parts will remain at rest in the positions where they happento be at that time. It will thus be clearly seen that by thisarrangement and construction of the parts the shade-roller and its shademay be raised and lowered to any desired position in front of the windowwithout altering the rolled position of the shade 36 upon its roller 35.

If it is desired to actuate the shade-roller 35 to lengthen or shortenthe shade, this is accomplished by means of the tape or cord 37 in theusual and well-known manner customary in spring-rollers and theirshades.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modification of the invention, the shade-rollerand its shade being suspended from the main actuating device by adifferent means. In this construction the spools 9 and 12 are providedwith wide tapes 39 and 40, each tape having at its end a loop 41.Secured to the usual flat stud 42 of the shade-roller 43 is an arm 44,provided with a right-angled member 45, which is arranged in tlie loop41 of the tape 39. In the tubular end portion 46 of the shade-roller 43is a bearing 47, in which is arranged and held against displacement bysuitable disks or sesame A pull is first exerted upon the nuts 48 and 49anarm 50. The arm is provided with an upwardly-extending member 51,having an inwardly extending finger 52, wlich is arranged in the loop 41of the tape 40.

The operations of the parts are substantially the same as thosedescribed in connection with the construction represented in said Figs.1 to 5, inclusive.

In Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 1O I have shown still another modified means ofsuspension for the shade-roller and its shade. In tltis arrangement andconstruction of the devices the spools 9 and 12-also are provided withsuitable tapes 39 and 40, having receiving-loops 41. In each case thesuspension devices consist, essentially, of a member 53, arranged in aloop 41, each member 53 having a downwardly-extending arm 54, providedwith a hook-shaped support or receiving portion 55 for the arrangementin the respective supports 55 of the journals 33 and 34 of theshaderoller 35 shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Each member 53 is alsoprovided with a rearwardly-extending member 56 and a curved'part 57,extending back of the rolled portion of the shade 36, as shown. Eachcurved part 57 is also provided with a laterally-extending rod portion58, the two rod portions 58 extending toward each other and having theirfree ends slidably arranged in a tube 59, as clearly illustrated inFigs. 7 and 10 of the drawings. By tl is arrangement the parts can beeasily and quickly adjusted to shade-rollers of varying lengths, as willbe clearly evident. The arrangement of the parts shown in said Fig. 7also enables my invention to be used directly within the sides 4 of thewindow-frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a window-shadeadjuster, the combination, with a pair of fixed bearings, a mainactuating device consisting of a hollow rod 7 and a rod 8, the hollowportion of said rod 7 and the rod 8 being of an angular polygonalcross-section to permit the adjustment of said rods 7 and 8 laterally,but preventing any torsional movement of said rods, a spool 25 on saidrod 8 and an operating-tape connected with said spool 25, a spool 9 uponone end of the rod 8 and a spool 12 upon one end of the rod 7, a plateand pintle upon one end of the spool 9, and a chambered shell arrangedover one end of the spool 12, a ratchet-hub 16 in said shell providedwith holding-depressions 21, a plate 14 within said shell and securedupon the end of the spool 12, a pair of holding-dogs connected with saidplate 14 and adapted to engage with the ratchet-hub, a fiat studextending from said ratchet-hub, the pintle at one end and said fiatstud at the other end being operatively connected with the respectivebearings, suspension-tapes extending from said spools 9 and 12, and aHartshorn or spring shade-roller provided with the journals rotatablyconnected with the end portion of said suspension-tapes to permit of theindependent rotary motion of the shade-roller, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

2. In a window-shade adjuster, the combination, with a pair of fixedbearings, a main actuating device consisting of a hollow rod 7 and a rod8, the hollow portion of said rod 7 and the rod 8 being of an angularpolygonal cross-section to permit the adjustment of said rods 7 and 8laterally, but preventing any torsional movement of said rods, a spool25 on said rod 8 and an operating-tape connected with said spool 25,spool 9 upon one end of the rod 8 and a spool 12 upon one end of the rod7, a plate and pintle upon one end of the spool 9, and a chambered shellarranged over one end of the spool 12, a ratchet-hub 16 in said shellprovided with holding-depressions 21, a plate 14 within said shell andsecure d upon the end of the spool 12, a pair of holding-dogs connectedwith said plate 14 and adapted to engage with the ratchet-hub, a flatstud extending from said ratchet-hub, the pintle at one end and saidflat stud at the other end being operatively connected with therespective bearings, suspension-tapes extending from said spools 9 and12, a hanger attaci' .e d to the lower end of each suspensiontape formedwith a receiving portion and a slot, and a Hartshorn or springshade-roller provided with journals 3]. and 32 each arranged in areceiving portion and slot of the hangers, and means connected with; thejournals 31 and 32 to prevent the lateral displacement of said journalsfrom the hangers which are connected with said tapes, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

3. In a window-shade adjuster, the combination, with a pair of fixedbearings, a main actuating device consisting of a hollow rod 7 and a rod8, the hollow portion of said rod 7 and the rod 8 being of an angularpolygonal cross-section to permit the adjustment of said rods 7 and 8laterally, but preventing any torsional movement of said rods, a spool25 on said rod 8 and an operating-tape connected with said spool 25, aspool 9 upon one end of the rod 8 and a spool 12 upon one end of the rod7, a plate and pintle upon one end of the spool 9, and a chambered shellarranged over one end of the spool 12, a ratchethub 16 in said shellprovided with holdingdepressions 21, a plate 1 1 within said shell andsecured upon the end of the spool 12, a pair of holding-dogs connectedwith said plate 141 and adapted to engage with the ratchet-hub, a flatstud extending from said ratchet-hub, the pintle at one end and saidflat stud at the other end being operatively connected with therespective bearings, suspension-tapes extending from said spools 9 and12, a langer attached to the lower end of each suspension-tape formedwith a receiving portion and a slot, and a Hartshorn or springshade-roller provided with journals 31 and 32 each arranged in areceiving portion and slot of the hangers, and an enlargement 38 uponthe free end of each journal 31 and 32 to prevent the lateraldisplacement of said journals from the hangers which are connected withsaid tapes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 30th day of March, 1905.

ADRIAN HITT.

Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, GEO. D. RICHARDS.

